, 1887-12-07
Suggestions from the Governor
to the Legislature.
He Enters Extensively into the
Wants OF the Territory.
And Points Out Defects Need.
ing Regulating.
THE MESSAGE.

House OF Representatives OF tho l.egis.
latlve Assembly OF Washington Terri.
tory:
Gontlemen,- have tho honor to greet
you a. representatives OF the people, to
welcome you to- the Capital City, and to
wish you good fortune IN your dolibera-
tons.
Delegated by the people to assemble
here and consider the affairs OF the COM
monwealth you have in your hands the
power To- advance or retard the happiness
and prosperity Of your constituents, and
feel assured that feeling due sense Of
the great responsibility, you Will give
conscientious thought and laborouS at
tcntiOn to the trust.
In pursuance of my duty rs defined by
law and custom ! have the honor to sub.
NIT for your consideration II general state
ment OF the condition OF the territory and
such recon- nendations rs to changes in,
emcndalions Of, and additions to the laws
AS have seemed to me proper.
CONDITION OF THE TERRITORY.
During the past summer and autumn
have visited nearly every part OF the jur
istlicton and have endeavorei to asccr-
tain what were the wishes OF the people.
I found ut every point evidences OF thrift
and prosperity. / saw not only bound
less and various natural resources, but a
population OF bright and active men and
women, who are we'll calculated to devel-
Ope those resources and make Washing
OF the American Union. ! also saw that
side by side with material progress the
people were paying due regard To mora.
and intellectual advancement, as evidenc-
ed by churches, academies, and common
schools, not only in cities, but in the vii
lagos and beside the country roads. Har-
tnOny and good feeling seemed to prevail
, and the people everywhere take pride in
the common wealth and place its welfare
above their private interests. With such
tlt.. NJ m tra n
far exceed the events OF the past, period
for period, rs will be beyond our compre.
hensiou. our various climates and the
endless list of our natural resources Will
enable us to ultimately make the boast
that there will be no blank in the census
returns.
III have cndenvored to make "A detailed
exhibit OF the resources OF the territory
in my annual report to the Interior de
partment, but owing to the lax methods
Of taking our census and the defective
laws governing assessment returns tho
exhibit was not what hoped II should
be, l suggest that 1t would be we'll to
amend the laws so aS to provide for n
better service IN taking the census. In
addition to the enumeration OF the inhnb'
itants returns should be made OF the tive
stock, the cereal products, tho hay crop,
aud other items usually included in
census. ] hope to be able to ay printed
copies OF tho report to the interior depart
ment before you before the session has
FAR progressed.
FINANCES.
submit herewith the reports of the
territorial auditor and territorial treas
urer, which together exhibit the tinancia
condition " the territory at the pcesent
time, 1t will be seen by the report Of the
auditor that the territory is in debt for the
first time in ten years and that the indebt-
edness IL greater than at any previous
time in its history. At the close OF The
last biennial period thel o was cash sur.
plus in the treasury OF over $4,000, and
at the close OF the period under consider
alton there is u deficiency Of $4,000. The
estimates for the next biennial period for
all items including liquidation OF the
present Indebtedness Is S3i5, ,000 The es-
tinaes made by other officers, no wever,
for the particular institutions under their
charge exceed the estimates made by the
auditor for the same purposes by an ag-
gregate Of 10000, which added To the
total estimate of the auditor makes II
grand total OF $4,000. These estimates
should be closely scrutinized, but should
no, be scaled To point affecting their
usefulness. This enlightond people will
expect you to exercise such prudence |
only as man of judgment would use in
his own affairs, which Is to practice that |
degree Of true economy in expenditures, |
which while strictly avoiding eNtraNa- !
uance, Will keep every branch Of the pub !
lie service up To the highest degree OF cf.
ficicncy. The debt is insignificant com |
pared with our present wealth and uopu-
laton, and 1t would be better to let II |
stand than to stint the public institutions |
IN the interest OF It's immediate payment. |
1t must be borne in mind in consider |
ing the present Indebtedness that we have |
two worry fine public buildings, the hos |
pital for the insane and the Walla Walla !
penteutary, both OF which were urgently |
needed in the place Of cash. 1t must also |
be borne in mind in considering the
means Of repleniShing the treasury that |
the cost of these public buildings is |
greater than the surplus OF two years ago |
and the present indebtedness combine d.
1 order to nd Just our Income to meet |
the ends required, II will be necessary to
make changes IN the revenue laws, and |
| earnestly commend your honorable
body carefully to consider the valuable
Auggcstions OF the auditor in that regard.
pENITENTIARY.
Tho reports of the penitentiary build
ing commissioners and the supcrintend-
ont OF that institution will exhibit the
matters Of which they treat. Detailed
statements are furnished in regard to the
cost Of the new buildings at Walia Walla
and estimates for further improvements
are submitted.
Laws creating officers for tho institu.
ton and rules for its government will
have TO bo formulated at this session, as
at present they only exist by virtue Of an
executive order under color OF law
The prison has been supported from tho
date Of It's occupancy by private enter
prise, and while dono think the prece-
dent good one to follow, il appears In
this instance TO have resulted in a saving
to tbs treasury. The number OF convicts
in the Seatco prison at the date of the re-
moval TO Walla Walla was 03, and the
number in confinement at the end OF the
seal year was lob. The cost per diem
per capita for maintaining these accord
ing to the report OF the superintendent is
much less than the price allowed he con-
tractors at the old prison. | send YOU
herewith the reports Of the officers allud-
cd to.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
] hand you tho report OF tho trustees